VIDEO | 42 SAF men lie in state in Army camp, in Crame on Thursday; 1 SAF member buried in Zambo

From InterAksyon (Jan 29): VIDEO | 42 SAF men lie in state in Army camp, in Crame on Thursday; 1 SAF member buried in Zambo



The flag at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City is flown at half-mast - as with flags in all other police and military installations - in mourning for the 44 Special Action Force members killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. HANDOUT PHOTO, AFP-PAO

(UPDATE - 9:21 a.m.) Forty-two of the 44 members of the police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) killed by Muslim rebels in the mission to get two most wanted terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao will be brought to Manila on Thursday.

Meanwhile, their remains lie in state at the gymnasium of the Army's 6th ID in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

The last 2 of the 44, who are Tausugs, were brought home to Sulu, according to 6th ID Spokesperson Cpt Joan Petinglay.

Earlier, full military honors were accorded the SAF men by the 6th ID. All flags in all military and police facilities, and local government units, are flying at half mast to signify mourning for the deaths of the SAF members, who were among 300 deployed to collar Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, and his cohort Bassit Usman.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas had said earlier they still have to verify information that Marwan, who was said to be already in SAF custody when a "misencounter" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front happened, had been killed.

The SAF team was pinned down by heavy fire from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and was maneuvering to exit the "kill zone" when it met the much bigger MILF group, said earlier reports.

Highest police honors, full benefits

 Meantime, the PNP is preparing the highest police honors to be given to the slain policemen, including all benefits due to the surviving kin.

Surviving kin of slain policemen in the Maguindanao encounter are entitled to receive death benefits ranging from P1.5 million to P2 million.

Death benefits for policemen killed in line of duty include P250,000.00 from the President’s Social Fund; between P141,000.00 up to P181,000.00 as Special Financial Assistance (SFA) from the PNP; burial benefits worth P50,000.00; and P200,000.00 gratuity from the National Police Commission.

PNP members of the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund are also entitled to death insurance ranging from P225,000.00 to P417,000.00 depending on rank.

These death benefits are on top of the estimated P15,000 monthly lifetime pension from the PNP and roughly the same amount of pension for five years from the National Police Commission.

Meanwhile, 12 days of mourning have been declared by the town of Mlang in North Cotabato.

One of the two slain PNP commandos whose remains were brought to Zamboanga City, PO3 Jedz-in Asjali, was laid to rest Wednesday morning, with full honors and a 21-gun salute.

His family said they were trying to be strong despite their grief because they know that he died for his country and had done his uniform proud.

HERE'S NEWS5'S VIDEO REPORT OF ASJALI'S BURIAL:
[Video report]

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/103909/42-saf-men-lie-in-state-in-army-camp-to-be-brought-to-crame-thursday